Gypsies or Cikáni (Czech for “gypsies”) is a collection of photographs taken by Josef Koudelka between 1962 and 1971. The photographs offer a look at Roma Society and the Gypsie’s way of life in various European countries.
Koudelka originally planned to publish the photographs in Prague, but due to the Soviet invasion in 1968, he was forced to leave Czechoslovakia for fear of retribution for his photo series Invasion, which documented the invasion of Prague.
He fled to Paris in May of 1970, and would spend the next two decades in exile. During these years he took the photographs which would later become known as the series Exiles.
He published Gypsies, the selection of photographs he had taken throughout Romania, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, France, and Spain, in Paris in 1975. The photographs in the series depict life in various Roma settlements around Europe, mainly East Slovakia.
“What matters most to me is to take photographs; to continue taking them and not to repeat myself. To go further, to go as far as I can.” – Josef Koudelka
Josef Koudelka published a book of his photograph series Gypsies in 1988 entitled Koudelka: Gypsies.
Sources: MagnumPhotos
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Zanna,
All the documents you post are really nice to see!!!
You do a good job! Thank you!
Most Europeans believe that Gypsies or cikani are a problem all over.